episode_0134

* * *

Annell Castle, the capital of Brans County.

“Master, I am so glad to see you again. Are you healthy?”

A purple-haired woman was kneeling and bowing to Rin, who was sitting on the throne.

It was Farfalle, a state agent whose confinement had just ended.

After the day of the conversation with Chell.

Contrary to expectations that war would continue, each day passed uneventfully.

Of course, flat here just meant that there was no fighting.

The morale on the front lines, guarded by a minimum number of people, had been missing for a long time, with both troops and generals missing.

At the same time, the evaluation of the monarch, Lin Brans, who was doing nothing, was plummeting.

The only thing that prevented it from collapsing was that Chell and Kalinz, who were popular with the military to some extent, were mediating in their respective positions – it had declined to the point where it could not be considered Lin, who had previously ruled the country with overwhelming charisma.

The reason Rin has been revered until now is because he delivered results.

The central region was organized, and all the weak countries in the Midwest were organized. The only force that threatened Serpina was the Brans army.

The invasion of the North, which I had only dreamed of, seemed like it could become a reality if I pushed just a little harder.

In such a situation, the generals naturally respect her.

Even if an order is given that is somewhat overbearing or incomprehensible, its authority never wavers. Because she was the woman who made our military so powerful. Because they were the real losers of the central region.

Even when Acious was the only country left in the central region, the military officers under its command thought that they would be able to quickly suppress the Acious army.

but… … For some reason, ever since one of the military commanders betrayed and left the country-

This country was shaken sharply.

Rather than liquidating the Aishous army, they ended up handing over about 1/4 of the central continent to Serpina.

Even after that, she was just wasting time without a proper solution – it was inevitable that her authority as king would fall to the ground.

Rin knew that fact well now.

so that… … He imprisoned her for the grave sin of disobeying his orders, and in the end he had no choice but to release her again.

“Farfalle. My complexion is very bad. … … Is it because of me?”

“No, my lord. Compared to the sins I committed, I was treated very kindly. I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to my lord for his consideration.”

“… … .”

Rejecting the monarch’s own orders, the state’s ruler arbitrarily issues another order.

No matter how much it is a national scheme, it is close to treason. No one reproached Lin for being imprisoned.

However, Lin also does not deny it.

Not him, but her- Farfalle was right.

“What should I do now? … ? I’ve been thinking hard about it on my own, but I don’t know what to do… … .”

“Master. It’s not over yet. Brans can rise again. Don’t we have any Midwest left?”

Castles to the west of Annell Castle.

It has been quite some time since the numerous weak countries that were scattered around were neatly organized into one.

There were some insignificant fiefdoms like Zeeland Castle, but there were also strategic places like Estate Castle with fertile land and a large population.

“Compared to a while ago, I think the area there has become sufficiently stable now. If you recruit as many troops as possible and deploy them on the central border, there is a high possibility that you will be able to protect your current territory.”

“Can you protect your territory? but… … You said that, right? Are you saying it’s right to give up the border?”

“It was like that at the time. However, as time passed, things changed. The Serpina army is no longer showing signs of moving south, and the Aishous army is not making any particular moves. It’s still too late. Quickly increase troops!”

“… … .”

Lin looked at Farfalle with empty eyes-

Soon, he lowered his head.

“Did that man say the same thing as you?”

“… … yes? If that guy… … ?”

“Swen. … … Is there more to it than him?”

The more I thought about it, the more I regretted losing Swen.

Looking back, everything he said was correct.

If we had accepted all of his advice without considering the context – instead of losing our castle in the central region, we would have been able to raise a sky-blue flag in the north.

What if more troops had been sent to the North?

Instead of sending Iren with him, I would have sent a truly trustworthy general.

no… … I can’t do it.

If only I hadn’t pushed Irene away in order to get him.

okay.

It’s a thought I’ve never thought of before.

Lin… … For the first time in my life, I was regretting treating Irene so cruelly.

“I… … Irene, just… … If only I had acknowledged that child… … .”

When I come to my senses, tears are flowing from my eyes again.

I can’t possibly forget it. That moment when everything seemed within reach, but it all collapsed like a sand castle.

His reputation as a monarch, his territory in the eastern part of the central continent, and his expectations of becoming a unified monarch all disappeared as if he were swept away by a wave.

Irene… … Because I let go of her hand.

After the hand that seemed to reach out to me again and again disappeared, everything flew away.

I could no longer deny reality.

Losing Irene was a huge, fatal blow.

At least, if I hadn’t sent Swen to the room where Irene was.

I wish I hadn’t put her to the test further when she said she would trust me.

“I… … I am. If so… … Swen would have been there. He would be by my side and give me amazing advice. He would continue to perform miracles. To me… … You said that to me. He said it was okay not to be afraid. I said I would give you the world… … We thought we could have the same dream.”

“Master… … .”

“Yes, farfalle. I was afraid of Swen. So, I wanted to crush him somehow. I thought it would be in my hands then. … … But, it wasn’t. I was wrong. to him… … I shouldn’t have treated you like that, but I… … .”

Farfalle thought as she watched her weakened master blaming himself endlessly.

That Lin Brans is blaming himself.

really… … Lin, who had such strong pride, collapsed completely.

Even if you are in prison, you still hear news. Although she was a prisoner, she had not lost any trust, so it was not difficult to find out news from the outside world.

I heard that Lin Brans has become a lot weaker… … I never thought it would be like this.

“Master, Swen is nothing but a traitor. This is a man who colluded with Irene Juliette and deceived his lord.”

“No… … Farfalle, no. I… … I left Irene in the Northern Fortress. I was driven to death. So I… … .”

Now I know.

At the last moment, Swen gave him a chance.

If only you had listened to him.

If only I had sent another general instead of using Iren… … .

but.

Myself at that time… …

“I wanted to kill Iren. So, I tried to kill him-”

“Master!”

Farfalle’s shout cut off Rin’s words.

If it were Rin’s normal self, this would never have been tolerated… … She was already very weak.

“Forget about the traitors. No matter how talented Swen is, he is still a traitor who chose Irene over his master. The same goes for Irene. Considering the fact that she was the one who ultimately betrayed and cut off our Brans army, doesn’t this prove that the lord’s decision to eliminate Irene was correct?”

Farfalle also knew.

That trying to kill Iren wasn’t the right decision.

However, the water has already been spilled.

It was a bigger problem if the person in the position of monarch was stuck in the past and could not do anything.

So, I had to throw away anything like faith.

Now, I had to go even further and deny Irene.

I was confident that unless it meant ousting Lin and appointing a new monarch, that was the right answer.

To be honest, it wasn’t easy to put it on his behalf, and there wasn’t really anyone who could do it.

“Master. We will help you get revenge on Irene. So from now on, let’s slowly rebuild Brans’ army together. I, Farfalle, will throw myself into reconstruction.”

“Farfalle… … .”

“Please trust us. I will definitely watch it. First, give an order immediately to the western castle lords-”

at that time.

“Master!!”

A soldier burst into the throne room.

There is no way that Farfalle is unaware that he is in audience, so this means that it is an emergency situation.

Farfalle turned her head and looked at the soldier.

and… … As soon as I face ‘that thing’, I feel like my heart is sinking.

‘… … !!’

A red cloth tied to an arm.

It’s a messenger.

… … Unfortunately, it seemed too late.

“Hesna-kun… … There is news that about 68,000 troops are being sent towards El Gaim Castle!”

* * *

Madlan Castle, the capital of Karelia County on the southern continent.

“Hesna army moved?”

“It seems so.”

After being briefed on the situation by the soldier, the green-eyed monarch – Makana Karelia covered her mouth with her fan and fell into deep thought.

‘Is the time coming soon?’

The four southern states were in a tight balance – Hesna County, Roland County, Ohana County, and here Karelia County.

It was the moment when that balance was finally broken by Hesna.

Of course, instead of the two sides invading each other, they ended up invading the Brans army.

‘Anyway, up to this point, Vanessa’s prediction was correct.’

Coincidentally, today is the day when the national conference is held.

Castle lords from all over will also gather, so if you have anything to prepare, you should prepare thoroughly.

Karelia nodded and spoke lightly.

Even though she was just a soldier, she was never treated poorly.

“Thank you very much for letting me know. It’s okay to go back now.”

“Yes, I understand!”

After biting the soldier, I went to where Vanessa was, but-

‘You were away.’

I don’t know where it went, but I couldn’t see it.

Well, a national conference will be held soon anyway. It would be okay to talk about the details then.

‘Sooner or later, as Vanessa said, a cataclysm will occur.’

My heart ached as I thought about the bloody smell of the war that swept across the continent rising in the south, but-

Since he was in the position of monarch, he had to overcome for a greater cause.

That time when I was patting myself on the throne and passing the time –

‘… … huh?’

* * *

“Arrived, Lord Seong.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“It’s something I have to do.”

Runarien arrived at Madlan Castle in a carriage, exchanged greetings with the soldier, and then looked around.

‘It’s been a while… … .’

It was once a place where people worked hard to farm, but for a moment I felt like I had strangely returned to where I was supposed to be –

Soon the thought scatters like dust and disappears.

The place she should be is not the Madelan Castle. The place where we all came together for the first time… … It was Zeeland Castle.

Even though it was an unsightly territory, I never once forgot the days I spent there.

“This is the capital… … .”

and.

Following Runarien, a woman slowly got out of the carriage.

Violet was the youngest of the children left in Kane’s care, and a girl who showed potential as a civil servant.

“What do you think?”

“Like you said, you can feel the progress on your skin.”

This time, I accompanied her because I heard that there was a book on military strategy that I wanted to obtain.

Since she was the most introverted of the three children, Luna was thinking of using this opportunity to get closer to her.

As a guardian, I also had a desire to raise the children well as they were entrusted to me by Kane, not someone else.

“Looks like there is still some time left. how is it? Shall we look around the market first?”

“No, Luna.”

Violet gave a polite greeting.

“It is okay for you to slowly help me with my errands after Luna has finished all her errands.”

“Is that so? Then what… … .”

If you say so, since I arrived early, I’d like to take a quick look around.

It would be nice to say hello to the residents of the territory with whom I farmed for the first time in a while – that was the moment I thought to myself as I walked out.

‘huh?’

Over there, there is a building with barracks.

For some reason, the atmosphere was strange.

The soldiers’ expressions are very serious, and it feels like something is going on… … ?

Luna and the others cautiously walked in that direction.

* * *

Where they arrived –

Once again, there was a woman with a face I missed after seeing her for the first time in a while.

‘Cecil… … ?’

However, even though it was a friendly face, it was not a situation where I could talk.

This is because, in a very serious atmosphere, I was confronting a woman whose face I had also seen before.

“Cecil. Please stop giving meaningless replies.”

At Vanessa’s threatening words, a girl behind Cecil was trembling and shedding tears.

Cecil put her hand on the girl’s shoulder to calm her down and spoke in a firm tone.

“No matter how many times I tell you that this is a meaningless response, my opinion does not change. Hi Vanessa. I beg you with the utmost sincerity on my part. Please remove my order.”

“That’s not possible. Under strict military law, no one can receive preferential treatment. Mr. Cecil. I don’t want to escalate things. Please step aside.”

Cecile, who heard those words, responded as if shouting in a slightly more heated tone.

“Preferential treatment? Is it a privilege to prevent the entire family of a soldier who broke military law from being killed for guilt by association?!”

… … what?